RAY COMFORT SITTING WITH JOYCE MEYER

by Holly Garcia

from Redeeming Moments

I was asked about what I thought about Ray Comfort appearing on Joyce Meyer’s show. I am afraid some will not appreciate this, but what I do, I do for Him, and for the love of the body, and to obey His Word to “prove all things”.

Seen here at this link: http://youtu.be/T9HOrXHK5WY

◦ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

People may or may not agree with my thoughts on this. There are a few passages that come to mind regarding associations. So I will share here and see if you come up with the same thoughts I have on the matter.

Ray Comfort is not at Joyce’s show to debate her. Nor is he there to argue the scriptures with her in the marketplace as far as I could determine. Some will say, “But he is sharing the gospel, isn’t that a good thing?” We will address it I hope. I do not believe this can be compared to a debate with an atheist or a non-believer.

Why? The atheist does not claim to be a “brother or sister in Christ”.

◦Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. I Cor 10:20-21

Joyce is WOF and also has the heretical teaching of Jesus being born again in hell, along with being a female pastor (unbiblical also), prosperity teachings etc. So what do I think applies to this situation?

Some may ask, “Could he be there to speak against her error in public?” Or, “Maybe he is there to help her?”

The question I would rather ask; “Is he by his presence, commending her ministry to those who follow his ministry?” (I believe so). So, I think these passages apply.

(This one -I John 2:9-11 below, seems pretty clear to me – too many try to wrestle with the outcome of what will happen if we obey this passage. Such as: “How will people view us if we just didn’t talk to them?” Or, How will non-believers think of Christians or the Lord, if we are “unloving”?

I rather prefer to think, “What will the Lord think of me if I do not obey His Word?” And also I ask this of myself, not to point a finger at any who may disagree, but, who am I to decide what the outcome of obeying His Word will be, even if I haven’t seen it practiced at the churches I have been at, or by pastors, I have to remind myself that we are in the age of apostasy, surrounded by a falling away from the true faith, and obedience to His Word is life. We must obey the truth and God rather than man. These false teachers hinder people from obeying the truth, lead people into eternal death, why on earth would we want to associate in a ministerial capacity with a known wolf?… Beyond me…

◦Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If ANYONE comes to you and DOES NOT BRING THIS DOCTRINE, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him SHARES in his EVIL DEEDS. 2 John 1:9-11

STILL NOT CERTAIN?

(Think on the Bride, and who will answer to the Bridegroom for exposing her to ravenous wolves).

◦If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. I Tim 6:3-5

We are to take heed to the doctrine for a reason:

◦Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. I Tim 4:16

Should we ignore these scriptures and share a pulpit with the false in the hopes of “reaching more people”?

◦But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Pet 2:1-3

This grieves me…

MANY will follow their destructive ways.

So you want to lead the sheep over to the wolf in order to get God’s Word out???

My decision thus far… Ray Comfort has crossed the line and fellowshipped with the unfruitful deeds of darkness. I believe he has also disobeyed 2 John 1:9-11, whether knowingly or by justifying the end outcome. I believe I’m not to keep company with him, yet still consider him a brother.

Does the Word tell me to mark and avoid him for association? That’s a harder decision for me, but open to Biblical thoughts on this. I think it is very border line and so prayer and discernment is needed for each of us. We have to determine if they have “caused” (by their association) divisions or offenses, by bringing a doctrine contrary to the one you have learned…

◦Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-19

HAVE THEY DISOBEYED HIS WORD? AND DOES THIS VERSE APPLY ALSO?

◦But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thess 3:13-15

I know some see this as just obeying this particular epistle of 2 Thess. 2, but I believe by proxy, it speaks to obeying His entire Word. I believe it gives us the counsel to know what to do for a professing believer who does not obey the Word. Anyone can make a mistake (yes, I’m answering the one that says “nobody’s perfect”.) I’ll let the Word speak. Everyone should obey the truth, and all should tremble at His entire Word. (Is 66:2) Will we make mistakes? What should we do with those teachers and pastors, apologetics authors, etc. who continue in them? As a matter a fact, what do we do if ANYONE doesn’t obey His Word, or associates with a wolf, and shares in their evil deeds?

What is our responsibility when we see these things…We can start here…

◦For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor 10:4-5

O.K., let’s get down to the nitty gritty…

What do I think Ray Comfort should have done when Joyce Meyer asked him to be on her show?

EASY!!! TURN HER DOWN!

Reject a divisive (heretic) man (or woman) after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11

I know… people rationalize ALL the people he will reach. Again, this is not our decision to make. We are to obey God’s Word… They will compare it to a Glenn Beck scenario. Such as Kirk Cameron being on his show. Glenn Beck is not a Christian, he is a Mormon, therefore a Biblical Christian understands he is of the world. Apples to oranges.

WHY SHOULD WE NOT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FALSE?

Because we are told….

◦ Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:10-11

The laying on of hands was done to approve someone for ministry. I know some may not agree with me on this, but isn’t what these pastors/teachers do when they associate together with the heretics? They lead people into error.

◦ Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. I Tim 5:22

NOT KEEPING COMPANY WITH THE ONE WHO ASSOCIATES WITH THE WOLF.

Does the verse apply in 2 Thess. 3 to obeying the entire Word? I personally do believe so. The entire epistle of 2 Thessalonians discusses the antichrist, false teachings, and men that are unreasonable and wicked that do not have faith. It reiterates in chapter 3 for believers to do the things that they commanded them. One very important command was that we WITHDRAW from everyone who walks disorderly and NOT ACCORDING to the tradition they received from the apostles (the entire New Testament is written by those who were the apostles or those who traveled with them, or brothers of Jesus. I think this would include the entire Word.)… Also mentioned…hmmmm… even busybodies who don’t work, but mind other people’s business….

We know that we have to obey God’s Word, so for me personally, if someone meets with these people, without the intent of correcting them in public (and that’s even questionable) then I have to stay away from listening to them until they repent for their error.

In the case of correcting a wolf, or even a brother in serious error, I believe that person would have to come to you in repentance, to turn from his false teachings, and then maybe this would apply.

◦ And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

Why do I think it’s such a great sin to put up with false teachers? Besides the greater condemnation teachers will receive for leading someone into error, we have certain standards for the church and a reason for them. It is to protect the flock and to make sure a dying world receives the truth, not poison.

Now for those who bring up that Jesus ate with Pharisees, prostitutes and tax collectors, these would be applicable to the standards for the world. We do not judge the world, God judges the world (I Cor 5) but any who profess Christ, it is a different story. We are to be commended if we will search the scriptures and hold up someone’s teaching to see if these things are so- Acts 17:11, (Commended! Not to be called heresy hunters, witch hunters, or nit-pickers).

We obey the truth through the Spirit (which purifies our soul), in SINCERE LOVE OF THE BRETHREN… (from I Pet 1). This is why I think it is so important to not compromise His truth. It is not ours to rationalize what we think might be a better way to handle something. I don’t want to be hanging with one who decides which portions we might obey, and which ones we can let slide in the name of evangelism, unity, love, etc. Because ONLY the truth will set them free… WHY would we want to mingle it with error? It is not error or watered down truth that will set anyone free. So continue in His Word!

◦So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32

A LITTLE LEAVEN

Immorality, especially spiritual fornication, defiles the church. And we have NOT mourned as a church, instead, we invite them to conferences with us, we have them speak at our church, or we go on their t.v. programs.

Each person has to make a decision, it’s not always easy to say in each and every situation. But I believe they are allowing these spiritual fornicators to slip into the church as they have joined hands with their ministries to do certain projects etc. I believe spiritual fornication is to be treated the same as sexual immorality, it is a sin of rebellion against the truth, fornication against the bridegroom. It is for covetousness, and for their bellies. They revile the real church, and they mock them, and they mock God’s Word and blaspheme the way of truth. Did we forget this passage?

◦Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” I Corinthians 5:6-8, 11-13

*FOOTNOTE: (FOR ME)

◦ But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15

This may be shared in its’ entirety for God’s Glory only!

Copyright © 2012, All Rights Reserved, Holly Garcia